Because we’re an online group, our members live in a variety of places and come from all sorts of backgrounds. But we all have one thing in common–we love the world of children’s picture books!

Meet Barbara Bockman!

I have been writing stories and articles for children’s magazines for several years. Now I am having my first picture book, Fantastic Flight, published soon by Guardian Angel Publishing. I have degrees in English and Library Science, and I taught English at Pensacola Junior College. It’s funny how teaching is one of the best learning experiences. I belong to two other critique groups, a face-to-face one and an online one. We see a lot of young adult and middle grade novels in those groups. Some of my favorite authors are Tomie de Paola, Patricia Lee Gauch, A. A. Milne, and Verla Kay.

Meet Mirka M. G. Breen!

Born and raised in Jerusalem, I now live and raise my own two angelic teens (Ha!) in California, dreaming up stories for my, and their, younger selves. My first contracted picture book was There’s a Turkey at the Door, and The Voice of Thunder, a novel for middle grades, was released in 2012. To read more about Mirka, visit her web site.

Meet Pam Brunskill

I grew up in Buffalo, NY, where reading played a big role in my childhood. I loved reading The Very Hungry Caterpillar with my mom, and I can vividly recall the first time I heard The Giving Tree. Professionally, I became a third and sixth grade teacher in Clarence, NY and then an instructor in the Early Childhood and Adolescent Education Department at Bloomsburg University. Now I am focusing on my children’s writing. I sold two articles to Highlights, and am pursuing publication of some of my picture books. You can follow me on Twitter @PamBrunskill.

Meet Mark Ceilley!

I’m happy to be a part of our writer’s group. I have been actively writing stories since 2005. I am a former elementary school teacher with 22 years of experience. I am published in Spider magazine. ( July/Aug. 2009) As an active member of SCBWI, I’ve attended state and national conferences. In January 2012, I graduated from Hamline University with an MFA in Writing for Children and Young Adults. To read more about Mark, visit his web site.

Meet Tina Cho!

Tina Cho grew up in Iowa where she eventually met her husband from Korea. After living in Iowa, Arizona, and California, they now reside in Seoul, South Korea. Tina had been an elementary teacher for 11 years, mainly in kindergarten. Currently, she homeschools her two children, Anna, a 5th grader, and Isaac, a 2nd grader. God led her in the direction to write children’s books. She writes for the children’s and educational markets. She’s an author of 25 guided reading books, one coloring book, and has three nonfiction books for girls under contract. To learn more about Tina, visit her blog at Tina’s Tidbits.

Meet Laura Sassi!

A born reader and lover of children’s literature, Laura taught elementary school for several years before pursuing her passion for writing. Now a wife and mother with two active kids, she finds inspiration in the antics of everyday life. Her humorous poems, stories, articles and crafts have appeared in many publications including Highlights for Children, Cricket, Ladybug, Spider, Focus on the Family’s Clubhouse and Clubhouse Jr., FamilyFun, and Pack-O-Fun. Her first picture book will be published by Zonderkidz, a Harper Collins Company. For more about Laura’s thoughts on writing and life, visit her blog: www.laurasassitales.wordpress.com or follow her on Twitter @laurasassitales.